What is MIME type "audio/wav"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

The MIME type audio/wav tells your system that the file holds raw, uncompressed sound data. It stores audio as a series of samples in PCM format, which preserves every detail of the original recording.

Files with this MIME type are common on Windows and in professional audio work. They offer high quality but take up a lot of space.

Uncompressed Audio: Maintains full sound detail without loss.
Broad Compatibility: Most media players and editing software support this format.
Editing Friendly: Ideal for audio editing, mixing, and mastering tasks.
File Size Trade-off: Large file sizes mean more storage is needed.

Common file variants include WAV and WAVE.

This type is used when sound quality is critical. It finds use in recording studios, system sound effects, voice-over work, and archival storage of original audio recordings.

For more details on MIME types, check out the MIME Types Documentation.

Associated file extensions

.wav, .wave

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: audio/wav

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/wav">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'audio/wav');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.wav, .wave

FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.